Student Placement: UCL
About the Student
Xiaoyun Tang– Department of Political Economy, King’s College London
PhD topic: Banking Crises in Late Imperial and Modern China: A Textual and Econometric Exploration Analysis, 1881-1936
Host: University College London (UCL), supervised by Dr. Nora Yitong Qiu
When: July – September 2025
Placement overview
Xiaoyun undertook a 12-week research internship at University College London, working under the supervision of Dr. Nora Yitong Qiu. The placement focused on digitizing and analysing historical financial data from East Asia, particularly the Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank (SCSB) and macro-financial data from Hong Kong.
This interdisciplinary internship combined archival research, technical skill-building in OCR and computer vision, and collaborative academic writing. It not only complemented Xiaoyun’s doctoral research on banking crises in China but also expanded her methodological toolkit and professional network.
Placement Objectives and Activities
The internship was designed to:
- Digitize balance sheets of the SCSB (1950–1964) and macro-financial data on Hong Kong’s foreign currency money supply (1950–1970).
- Apply OCR and computer vision techniques to historical documents.
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of financial trends.
- Co-authjor a research paper with the host supervisor.
Xiaoyun’s work plan was structured into three phases:
- Data Collection & Digitization – Gathering archival materials and preparing datasets.
- Analysis & Interpretation – Applying interdisciplinary methods to uncover financial patterns.
- Writing & Dissemination – Drafting a research paper and preparing for future academic presentations.
Impact on PhD and Career Development
The placement significantly enriched Xiaoyun’s doctoral research by expanding the historical scope and providing access to new archival materials. It also strengthened her academic profile through planned publications and technical skill-building. The experience helped her develop resilience, adaptability, and confidence in navigating research challenges; skills essential for both academic and professional growth.
“This was a truly interdisciplinary internship that exceeded my expectations. It helped me become more confident, adaptable, and patient when facing challenges during research.”
Student’s reflections
Xiaoyun highly recommends the LISS DTP Internship Scheme, especially for students seeking to broaden their research horizons and collaborate across institutions.
“It is a valuable opportunity to step outside of your home university and collaborate with other prestigious scholars. Solving unexpected challenges during the internship deepened my research experience and helped me build resilience.”
PhD supervisor’s view
Dr. David Chilosi praised the placement for its academic and professional benefits:
“The internship allowed Xiaoyun to gain new technical skills, knowledge of new sources on Chinese banking history, and fresh ideas for her PhD. It also laid the foundation for future collaborations.”
What the host said
Dr. Nora Yitong Qiu commended Xiaoyun’s dedication and interdisciplinary contributions.